- Brenda, on paid administrative leave after the station shooting, is bored from inactivity. Salvation in the form of a covert ops assignment may be more than she bargained for, even if it means regaining her team.
- As a result of the shooting of Agent Hecht in her last case, Brenda finds herself on paid administrative leave. While sitting at home, her squad is slowly being dismantled by Cmdr. Taylor. As Taylor clumsily investigates the murder of foreign-born piano student Malik Fara, Brenda is offered an opportunity by her old intelligence contacts to have her problems disappear if she will solve that case and identify the leak in their intelligence. Fara was likely killed by a terrorist organization that may also be in possession of 20 lbs. of plutonium.—garykmcd
- Robbery-Homicide has been called to a new development site where a youth's body is on the ground with bullet holes in him; police tape outlines the area, Lieutenant Flynn and Sergeant Gabriel are part of the investigative team. Commander Taylor is directing the officers, asking for quick briefings on what is known so far. Malik Fara lies dead of gun shots along a new development path, away from any buildings, he is a sixteen-year-old male likely taking the bus, and then walking to this destination before being shot dead.
Between Flynn and Gabriel speculation leads to some plausible conclusions, the attacker left shoe impressions indicating a presence after the early morning rain, the boy was shot three times in the front and one in the back. He was discovered by the building site manager this morning around eight-thirty. There are three other sets of footprints recognized in the area of the body. Gabriel proves Malik brought a knife with him, which is shown lying on the ground. The Sergeant presses on with his synopsis of the scene, Malik stabbed the killer, evidenced by the blood trail, and the knife belonged to the boy, his jacket shows where he carried it. Flynn tells Commander Taylor the boy was frightened of someone. Gabriel affirms evidence shown only one car at the scene. The Commander gives his summary orders announcing blood to the lab, casings to ballistics. Flynn suggests widening the search area, but Taylor refers to Atlanta rules not being in force in the past four months, a slight to Brenda and her methods. She is on four months administrative leave with Lt. Provenza.
Kitty is chilling on a table, while Brenda stews from her four-month administrative leave being stuck at home, trying to be comforted by Agent Howard. Lt. Tao has been reassigned back to SID, Det. Daniels is at Homeland Security, Sanchez and Provenza are being investigated by Internal Affairs.
Commander Taylor sits on a desk, Flynn's, eating his rice cake, spilling the crumbs on the lieutenant's desk, giving orders, favoring his men with the Malik case, despite Gabriel and Flynn's best efforts to provide more details concerning the murder. The boy's mother works nights, father is deceased, and he does play the piano, no friends, strictly academic emphasis on piano practice. The killer had Malik in a choke hold based on the bruises on his neck, the killer shoots forward trying to hit the guy in the car. Malik stabs the assailant, taking off, getting shot in the back, the killer tries again to shoot the guy in the car. Gabriel says Malik was not the primary target. The MTA confirms Malik was on the bus, departing around ten PM. Flynn concludes the kid walked a mile, in the dead of night, in the middle of nowhere, bringing a knife to a gunfight; why? Commander Taylor has his men look into the DNA test of the crime scene blood and has Flynn, Gabriel focus on that murder-suicide. Taylor takes his cream cheese back to Brenda's office as Flynn brushes away the rice cake crumbs from his desk.
Brenda walks into Pope's office to find an old friend, former CIA Commissioner Andrew Schmidt, after they exchange pleasantries, Pope says Andrew can make the FBI investigation go away in exchange for Brenda helping the CIA. Andrew declares the CIA wants you to help them. If you did help the company, they would make certain you got your job back, as an expression of thanks. Brenda says how can I help? Pope hands her a folder, and expounds on news that Malik Fara was killed last night. Andrew adds Commander Taylor lacks the critical data to solve this crime. The death of Malik Fara was almost certainly a mistake, the intended victim, if he is still alive, is in terrible danger. Malik's murder is proof there is a significant breach in agency security, therefore the company cannot rely on normal channels, so they have reached out to retired personnel such as you and me. They don't trust their own people? They do not, answers Andrew. Pope makes it clear Brenda cannot have her squad back legally, how you manage your resources is up to you. In a clandestine manner, Andrew requests Brenda's presence at a discrete location where he can provide the necessary tools for her work. His final words before departing, Brenda, see to it you are not followed. Pope says be very careful.
Brenda meets Andrew where designated, she signs an agreement, he hands her files, a terror-associates database on a laptop, a phone, the conversation that precludes contacting Andrew on that phone. Andrew explains, Operation Fireproof was a collection network, all four of its agents were killed two weeks ago, case Officer Lase Cole is still alive. Why roll up the chain and leave the anchor in place, quips Brenda. Andrew continues, Malik quoted the names of each member of Fireproof in a parking garage to Larry Cole. The operation was highly classified, ergo the agency has a traitor and our traitor is feeding information to a terrorist organization. Malik described his source of information as a contact within the Army of Allah. Malik and his contact were willing to defect to the U.S. requesting immunity from prosecution and be granted U.S. citizenship. Your mission is to catch Malik's killer and secure the identify of his contact. Brenda has no problem looking for Malik's killer, but to locate a defector is out of her practice. Andrew confides in Brenda there is an amount of separated plutonium in the hands of these terrorists to build an atomic bomb. I need to find that plutonium and I need you to help me. Brenda changes her mind and promises Andrew she will help him. Andrew offers Richard Branch, chief of the outpost here in Los Angeles will help you Brenda.
Brenda recruits Lt. Provenza to begin the search of the crime scene with Lt. Flynn joining them at the job site where Malik's body was found. Brenda follows the cryptic instructions found on Malik, a series of letters designating direction. Provenza finds a flashlight, Brenda pulls a transmitter out of its head, which explains how Malik was followed to the location.
From Brenda's living room, Sgt. Gabriel has joined the group. Malik's friend must be foreign because he requested U.S. citizenship, also he asked for immunity from prosecution so he has participated in criminal activity, probably terrorism. Flynn describes one of the guys chasing Malik as a size twelve shoe with a stride left in the soft dirt indicating he was at least six feet tall. Brenda requests Flynn and Gabriel copy the Malik murder book without Taylor knowing; also, please obtain the killer's DNA from that knife. Gabriel and Flynn leave Brenda's house, Provenza hangs, to learn he is needed if anything happens to Brenda. She says tomorrow she plans to meet up with Richard Branch, head of the CIA in Los Angeles. Provenza needs to know everything Brenda has done so far, but he can't be at any of the interviews, and the CIA cannot know about it. Provenza says, okay, 007, just tell me what you want me to do. Chief Johnson will be wearing a wire.
Brenda is being driven around by Richard Branch, he answers her inquiry of having been at his Los Angeles post for two years. Provenza is listening to their conversation in the media truck; Buzz is driving. Brenda is obviously wired. I didn't know about Fireproof until Andrew showed up asking questions, right after Larry Cole was fired. I thought Andrew didn't come until Fireproof's agents started dying. No, he was here much earlier than that. Richard takes Brenda to Elaine Donahue's location, her daughter Cynthia's house. Branch fills Brenda in by saying Elaine is still angry about this, she organized Fireproof perfectly and to her, it is still a big success. Branch warns Brenda, careful how you approach her, she can be a raving bitch. Branch asks how she would like to be introduced. You can call me Brenda; the raving bitch and I are old friends.
Cynthia answers in a crusty mood, closing the door behind her, walking the two guests to a back atrium through a side gate. Elaine greets her, Brenda Leigh Johnson, which of my old students could Andrew have sent to lighten my mood? The three sit while Elaine cuts pieces of a cake, and gets up to pour herself a vodka. Richard is my new boss, Brenda. Provenza is listening intently and smiling at Elaine's commentary. Elaine resumes filling Brenda in on what Operation Fireproof was, she drops Voitski's name, a former KGB officer. Elaine continues speaking about her involvement in the operation overseas, she blames Larry Cole for Operation Fireproof failing. Elaine cannot explain how Malik came to know all about the activity and the agent names. She suggests Brenda talk to Larry Cole to find where the real money was changing hands.
Brenda is back home, murder book from Flynn in hand, she plans on meeting with Larry Cole soon so she has Provenza help her cover all the case pictures, namely those of Mr. Cole. Brenda chases the Lieutenant away, and paraphrasing the conversation between Provenza and Chief Johnson, it would be a good time to begin carrying a gun again Lieutenant; better the one that got us put on administrative leave, then none at all. The lieutenant returns to the surveillance van with Buzz still at the wheel. Brenda continues to wear the wire from Elaine's.
Branch and Cole are seated on Brenda's couch for their informal chat. Chief Johnson begins her conversation with Larry Cole by saying how sorry is to hear about his divorce, losing custody of their child, getting fired with not very good references, plus the personal and financial pressures upon you, all of your agents are murdered and now Malik, too. I think you're the only person familiar with all the victims, is that right? Can you think of anyone else who might have known them, while they were alive? Cole answers no. You never identified Malik Fara until he was dead, true? I was trying to protect him. Do you have any idea how Malik and his contact traded messages with each other? Cole again answers no. Malik was living here illegally, no passport. We have DNA from Malik's killer, anyone you can think of we can match with those results? Cole expounds on his innocence, he states Malik was real, the Red Pines thing was a complete misdirect. Branch injects his comments regarding the past cases, namely the use of plutonium to make a bomb, and the small amount it would take to create such a threat. Brenda makes Branch know she does not want hear from him. Cole continues, the size of plutonium needed to be smuggled would easily fit into a ten-inch stainless steel container, an oversized hockey puck. Cole talks about Voitski as a go-between a young girl, a college student, named Dara, he trained. Dara acted as a honey-trap, went out with Voitski, and whenever he took her out, Cole said we went through his stuff. Brenda adds, Dara, one of your agents that is no longer with us. Brenda strongly hints at Cole's involvement with Dara, training her to be bait for a KGB agent. Brenda gets Voitski's address from Cole.
Gabriel and Flynn are in a car watching Voitski park in front of his residence, limping as he exits his vehicle, heading toward the entrance of his apartment building. Brenda, Flynn, Gabriel and Provenza move up the stairs in the building, all guns drawn, his apartment is 614, they move toward it. Brenda picks the lock, enters with Provenza, Brenda calling out the agent's name, Flynn and Gabriel remain in the hallway. They happen upon the body with an ice pick shoved through an ear into his brain. Provenza removes the man's trousers revealing a bandage over his stab wound. Brenda calls the incident into Andrew Schmidt, reporting her findings by saying, I found the man who killed Malik, does the name Voitski ring a bell? Andrew can only utter, dear God. Brenda declares as far as I am concerned, my work here is through. If you want my continued assistance Andrew, identifying Mali's friend, identifying your mole and finding the separated plutonium, we are going to have to change the rules. Andrew answers, what do you want? I want my job back with full crew or I walk away and you can clean this mess up yourself. So, Andrew, what's it going to be?
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